207 S. 9th; 1895; (O)

1st story weatherboard;
2nd story & attic story shake. Brick foundation. Full front steeply-pitched
(12-12) gambrel 2 story gable with 4 side gables, each of different height
slope/angle. Full front porch. Front and side bays. Single entry with transom.
Attic story leaded Palladian windows and leaded half-round.

207 South
Ninth Street was built in 1895 by prominent Lafayette banker Samuel
Moore (who lived next door at 203 S. 9th). It was a "honeymoon cottage"
for his children, each of whom lived there after their marriage, while building
their "real house" elsewhere in Lafayette. Miss Catherine Porter, a
local music teacher, bought the house from the Moore children, living there
from 1922 until her death in 1961 (she died in the "nursing home" at 221 S.
9th). In the next 16 years, the house had two owners - the Champes
and the Loofts.Jeff & Jane Boswell purchased the house in 1978
and embarked on their 5-year plan for renovation. After 24 years, they figured
they had come as close as they could to renovation and sold the home to Glen
and Suzie Parker.

The house sits
on a 55'x434' lot, 60' back from the street, perched high on the slope of
Ninth Street Hill. Older neighborhood residents tell of the days when they
watched a season's supply of coal being carried in buckets up the 35 front
steps to fuel the furnace.

The Boswells
sought to reclaim many elements of the historic interior after an extensive
1960s "remuddling." Using the 1960s architect's drawings, they had an excellent
map for discovering and recreating the original features of the home.

Fortunately,
the exterior had never been modernized, altered, or sided. Jeff designed and
built a period back porch to replace one lost to "progress." He also created
what some people call "the tool palace" in the back yard.

One of the most
surprising features of this home is its heavily wooded back yard which extends
300 feet - complete with ravine - all the way to Valley Street. A wide array
of trees which are not indiginous to Indiana are found in this amazing "urban
forest" setting. The most spectacular specimen being a huge cucumber magnolia.

Choosing the
exterior colors for the house, luckily, took several years! Being on
a tight "salad days" budget, the Boswells had quite a while to decide what
would look "just right." Every scheme they came up with was ultimately discarded
and they found themselves drawn to colors they really didn't think they liked:
the current burgundy, shutter green, and gray combination. As Jeff began the
prep work for painting, he discoved they had chosen the exact original color
scheme. Hmmm.

As interior
renovation began, the Boswells uncovered samples of the original wallpaper
and paint which revealed the exact interior colors as they had chosen... it
was like the house had convinced them of what colors it wanted to be! Other
rather "interesting" episodes and "unexplained occurances" have led the current
occupants to wonder if past residents of the home are still exerting their
influence and presence in this home! Jane notes that, after all the hard work
and love they have invested in this home, she, too, may hang around "in spirit"
for an eon or two to "advise" future owners! Jeff just grins.